Durban, South Africa March 22, 2014 –Participants at the 10th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme( CAADP) partnership meeting has recognised CAADP as the expression of reclaimed ownership of agricultural policy by African States and citizens of the continent.

CAADP is the African Union and NEPAD continent-wide structurewithin which African countries plan to accelerate economic growth, eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and enhance food and nutrition security, through agriculture-led development. To date, fifty out of fifty-four countries in Africa are using the CAADP structure in agricultural planning.

The 10th CAADPP Partnership Platform, which started on Tuesday 18 March 2014 in Durban, South Africa, has evolved to become a forum for those in the partnership to report on and discuss progress in a number of areas including collective financing and other public and private funding instruments. The 10th Partnership Platform is unique as it comes at a critical reflection moment when the year 2014 was declared by the African Union 19th Ordinary Summit as a Year of Agriculture and Food Security, as well as commemoration of 10 years since CAADP was endorsed by the same Assembly.

H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commissionsaid the Partnership Platform was a forum for intensive and inclusive dialogue in sustaining momentum in Africa’s agenda for job and wealth creation, as well as food security and nutrition.

In her closing statement, Mrs Estherine Fotabong, the NEPAD Director of Programme Implementation and Coordination, stated that CAADP is an African-owned inclusive initiative which provides the driveto address food and nutrition insecurity, as well as unemployment, particularly of youth and women.

Mr Joel OkundiObengo, from the Kenya National Young Farmers Association, said the CAADP Partnership Platform was strategic to his work as it provides the space for strategic partnership between the public and private sectors. With regards transforming Africa’s agriculture for shared prosperity, Mr Obengo said the inclusive approach of CAADP is important for young farmers who need more access to markets and opportunities to expand agribusiness.

The Partnership Platform’s outcomes included mapping the next steps in refining the measurement of results and impact through the CAADP results framework, as well as giving more attention to role of women and youth in agriculture. The Partnership Platform also concluded that further articulation of the results framework will make sure it is well adapted and suitable to meet country demands.